Sneakers (footwear)
The American term sneakers is a synonym for athletic shoes. More specifically, sneakers refer to footwear made of flexible material, typically featuring a sole made of rubber and an upper part made of leather or canvas. Sneakers were originally sporting apparel, but are today worn much more widely as casual footwear. They are now widely popular. Many children choose to wear sneakers to school because of their comfort and versatility.
Sneaker can also refer to an athletic shoe such as basketball shoes, tennis shoes or cross trainers. These shoes are sport specific shoes worn for various sports.
The British English equivalent of "sneaker" is "trainer" in its modern meaning; however, the traditional "sneaker" (pictured) is closer to the British "plimsoll". In some urban areas in the United States, the slang for sneakers is kicks. In Hiberno-English and Australian English the term is runners. In South African English the term used is tekkies.
Sneakers have become an important part of hip hop culture since the 1970s. Presently, numerous rappers sign million dollar deals with major brands such as Nike, Adidas or Puma to promote their shoes. Sneaker collectors, called "Sneakerheads", use sneakers as fashionable items. Artistically-modified sneakers can sell for upwards of $500.
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[edit] Etymology
In the 1800s, a London police officer developed a rubber-soled shoe in order to catch criminals in the act quietly. He called his invention "sneakers". The name derived from the fact that the rubber soles of the shoes made them noiseless.[1] The term "sneaker" was also used in 1887 by Boston Journal of Education:[2]
“It is only the harassed schoolmaster who can fully appreciate the pertinency of the name boys give to tennis shoes — sneakers.”
The British English term "trainer" is a slang abbreviation of "training shoe".
[edit] Popular Brands
Popular brands include: Air Jordan, Adidas, Asics, Converse, Feiyue, K-Swiss, Keds, New Balance, Nike, PF Flyers, PUMA, Reebok, Skechers, Vans.
[edit] Types
- High-tops cover the ankle.
- Low-tops do not cover the ankle.
- Mid-cut are in-between high-tops and low-tops.
- Sneaker boots extend to the calf.
[edit] Sneaker boots
Sneaker boots are a type of shoe that mimics the visual appearance of a traditional sneaker, but is equipped with a high heel. The heel makes it impossible to use them as anything but dress shoes.
- Examples
- In 1995 Cyd Jouny made a crossover between a basketball sneaker and a stiletto mule.
- Nobox, by Reebok an unsuccessful design in the mid-90's. [3]
- Moxy, by Cherry avenue [4]
- Converse Chucks
[edit] References
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "sneaker". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sneaker. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
- ^ Andrew Adam Newman (March 21, 2010). "Keds Campaign Claims a First, Then Revises". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/business/media/22adco.html?ref=media.
- ^ http://www.historyofashion.com/historyofashion/90footwear.html
- ^ http://www.cherryavenue.com
